A Cornish holiday – Along the coast

The incredibly varied landscape along the Cornish coast really took me by surprise. I expected to only find rocky cliffs and dark blue, choppy seas. But it was so much more than that!

The south coast was much more tame than what I imagined. The climate is quite mild and so wildflower meadows and shady woods reach the edge of the cliffs. It was so lovely to walk along paths shaded by tall trees with gentle waves tickling the rocks down below. There are beautiful little coves with sheltered sandy beaches; in my experience these were excellent places to look for sea shells carried on the shore by the tide. The weather during our stay was perfect, and so the blue sea looked very peaceful and inviting – if only it wasn’t so cold.

On the north coast, I finally found the significantly more dramatic and wild landscape that I expected. A jagged coast, sharp drops, and deep blue waves crashing on the cliffs. However, that’s not the whole story. The water in some sheltered bays was so clear and turquoise and calm, it practically urged me to jump in.

Perhaps the greatest surprise for me was the Atlantic coast near Padstow, where the river Camel meets the ocean. I never expected to find such beautiful, white sand beaches with the sea exhibiting a wide range of greens and blues. It looked practically tropical! I also found it very interesting to explore the grassy sand dunes along this coast, I loved the contrast of colours provided by the grasses, the wildflowers, the sand, and the sea.

The coast of Cornwall was nothing like I expected and very different to any other place in the UK that I’ve seen. Every day I was amazed at the beauty and wide range of the landscape. I can’t wait to go back someday! Have you ever visited Cornwall? What’s your favourite summer holiday destination?